how to overcome VR nausea | Tips and Tricks

Those who are new to virtual reality experiences, to their own approach to this fascinating and constantly developing world could find themselves facing the chinetosi (motion sickness in English) a problem that severely limits the ability to enjoy the experience. It is in fact mainly a strong nausea that affects some unfortunate users when using VR.

This nausea does not affect newbies and, in a similar way to motion sickness, is subjective. Some lucky users never experience motion sickness, others a little less fortunate begin to feel discomfort after a certain period of use (typically half an hour), finally some feel bad from the start. Motion sickness typically decreases as you get used to using the VR system.

Why does motion sickness happen?

It seems that the cause of this disorder is to be found in a conflict of information that reaches the brain, it happens to some even during journeys on vehicles (taking the name of motion sickness, seasickness or air sickness). In this case the brain receives from sight information involving movement (especially that indicate accelerations and decelerations) and instead from the rest of the body, information that the opposite they say it has stopped.

Tips for Overcoming VR Nausea

As in car sickness, some behaviors can worsen motion sickness (such as reading), the same thing happens on VR, so here are some tricks to suffer less.

1. Make sure the headset is positioned at its best

First make sure the viewer is correctly positioned and to have chosen the right distance between the eyes. If the vision is clear it means that the viewer is positioned properly. An incorrect positioning can lead to incorrect detection and therefore to unnatural movements within the experiences with consequent aggravation of the disturbances.

2. The options within the VR games to reduce nausea

In recent years, developers have become more attentive to the disturbance by inserting in the titles options capable of greatly reducing the annoyance.

Between these two are the functions to activate if you suffer from motion sickness: vignetting which obscures the corners of the screen by narrowing the field of view, focusing attention on the central part of each scene; and to choose how to move preferably teleportation. Translational displacement, in short, the usual walk or walk that is done in video games, can cause greater discomfort, being subject to accelerations and decelerations.

Some of the most recent titles now directly at launch ask the user which one is his tolleranza al motion sickness and adapt the controls accordingly. By now there are very few bad experiences, which trace the movements in an unnatural way causing problems for practically everyone.

3. Habit helps overcome motion sickness

As we have said the human brain is plastic and tends to get used to it to the different situations in which it arises. For this reason, the ailment also usually subsides with habit. The advice is to start with less annoying apps and games (in the dedicated paragraph we will propose a short list) and then move on to the more demanding ones. It is also of particular help start with shorter sessions and then gradually increase the usage time.

4. A fan also appears to help with motion sickness

Aim for a ventilator during sessionsit is not clear why, but having a breeze on your face seems to help to greatly reduce discomfort, it probably helps to fool the brain.

5. Medicines and natural remedies for nausea

Finally, there is always the pharmacological solution used for years and years by those suffering from ailments due to the use of vehicles. They are Dimenhydrinate based drugswhich has a strong anti-emetic action, and allows you to break down nausea for a good period of time.

If you want to resort to something more natural ginger has a similar action against nausea even if mildera decoction or ginger candy before a session should help keep the contents of your stomach in place.

Best VR games and apps for VR nausea sufferers

Here are some top-notch experiences that even those with motion sickness can enjoy it without feeling bad.

1. Moss

Undoubtedly it is one of the most successful fairy tales in VR, being a third-person title, it really doesn’t bother playing it. Moss for the uninitiated is an adventure game set in a fairy tale world full of details in which you control a mouse. The game manages to be together poetic and exciting, a real gem, which got a truly perfect Oculus port. In short, a title to try even if maybe adventure games are not your forte. Moss is available at a price of € 29.99 directly from the Store.

2. Wander

It is not a game but it is an app that can deliver an exceptional experience without ailments. With Wander and an internet connection available, you can move anywhere in the world. In the “Discovery” section there are many famous destinations, which are nice to visit, including museums, archaeological areas, nature reserves. While if you choose to roam freely you can visit every place reached by Street view and it’s not really cheap! The app is well done, you can buy it from the Store for € 9.99.

3. Beat Saber

It may come as a surprise that a rhythm game frenetico and engaging is on this list, yet it shouldn’t. Anyone who knows Beat Saber knows that the player is stationary in the virtual environment and they are the cubes that are presented to him to the rhythm of music to be sliced. Thanks to this mechanic, those who play Beat Saber rarely experience discomfort. Fortunately, if you want to try Beat Saber, a demo is available for free on the Store, if you want to proceed with the purchase, the full title costs € 29.99.

4. Superhot VR

It is one of those titles that are brilliant on PC, but which are enhanced in virtual reality. In this game you are placed in the midst of increasingly complex situations with guys who want to do the skin and we have a weapon at our disposal. Time flows at normal speed only when we move, allowing us to mix strategy and frenzy in a mix that’s really hard to describe. If you are looking for an experience, not only from a purely physical or reflex point of view, then Superhot VR will surely win you over. Fortunately, a demo is also available, so you can try it out for yourself before purchasing (the full title costs € 24.99).

Once you get used to these great titles, you can move on to enjoy the best titles in VR (for Oculus) that we have collected in a dedicated article: Best Oculus Quest 2 Games.